Penn Abroad in Tanzania Is Educational, Enlightening and Thrilling Waking up and seeing a two-ton elephant at your door sounds like it could be a scene from a movie, but that's exactly what University of Pennsylvania student Hannah Watene experienced while studying abroad in Tanzania. Watene, a junior in the College, is spending the semester at the University of Iringa. Along with 10 other students from universities across the United States, she is participating in a program to study community development, culture and the local language, Swahili. The language isn't new to Watene, of Louisville. An international relations and African studies major, she has taken Swahili for four semesters at Penn, and her parents, originally from Kenya, speak the language. But understanding conversational Swahili spoken by local Tanzanians is a bit of a challenge for her. "I've definitely had some difficulty adjusting to the rapid pace and the different vocal inflections and cadences," says Watene. Her classmates in Tanzania include students from Cornell University, Seattle University, the University of Pittsburgh, Elon University and California Lutheran University. As the only African-American in their group, local residents often think she's not really an American student. Some people have pulled her away from the group to ask her questions, such as where she's from and what the group is doing in the country. "It's definitely motivated me to work even harder on my conversational Swahili," says Watene. "That way I can maybe get a glimpse of what it might be like to be an 'incognito' tourist in the area." When the students aren't in class, they usually go to the center of Iringa. There's a large open-air market where they eat or hang out at a local craft and coffee shop. "We've encountered quite a lot of fried foods, so much so that a lot of us joke that it's like constantly being at a state fair," says Watene. "We've seen fried boiled eggs, fried meat skewers and 'maandazi,' fried dough pastries."
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Penn Abroad in Tanzania Is Educational, Enlightening andThrilling
Waking up and seeing a two-ton elephant at your door sounds like it could be a scene from a movie,but that's exactly what University of Pennsylvania student Hannah Watene experienced whilestudying abroad in Tanzania.
Watene, a junior in the College, is spending the semester at the University of Iringa. Along with 10other students from universities across the United States, she is participating in a program to studycommunity development, culture and the local language, Swahili.
The language isn't new to Watene, of Louisville. An international relations and African studies major,she has taken Swahili for four semesters at Penn, and her parents, originally from Kenya, speak thelanguage. But understanding conversational Swahili spoken by local Tanzanians is a bit of achallenge for her.
"I've definitely had some difficulty adjusting to the rapid pace and the different vocal inflections andcadences," says Watene.
Her classmates in Tanzania include students from Cornell University, Seattle University, theUniversity of Pittsburgh, Elon University and California Lutheran University.
As the only African-American in their group, local residents often think she's not really an Americanstudent. Some people have pulled her away from the group to ask her questions, such as where she'sfrom and what the group is doing in the country.
"It's definitely motivated me to work even harder on my conversational Swahili," says Watene. "Thatway I can maybe get a glimpse of what it might be like to be an 'incognito' tourist in the area."
When the students aren't in class, they usually go to the center of Iringa. There's a large open-airmarket where they eat or hang out at a local craft and coffee shop.
"We've encountered quite a lot of fried foods, so much so that a lot of us joke that it's like constantlybeing at a state fair," says Watene. "We've seen fried boiled eggs, fried meat skewers and'maandazi,' fried dough pastries."
The group has joined in on local activities such asjewelry making and hiking the nearby mountains.
In the most exciting expedition so far, the group visitedRuaha National Park, about 80 miles from campus, fora weekend safari.
"For most of us, it was our first time on safari," saysWatene. "So, being right in the midst of elephants,giraffes, lions and hippos was completely breath-
taking."
The group stayed in huts located in the middle of the park, while the animals roamed through thegrounds.
"I was definitely scared of the thought of a hippo charging our hut in the middle of the night," saysWatene. "Those things are incredibly huge in person!"
To ensure the students' safety, a gun-carrying guard watched over their hut, and, if anyone neededto use the restroom at night, the guard would escort them to the bathhouse.
During the time overseas, Watene has learned about the region's culture, hospitality and socialinteractions.
As a Lutheran school, the University of Iringa requires female students to wear skirts that are noshorter than knee-length.
Watene says everyone is very polite and considerate.
"Every time you are eating food, it iscustomary to invite people around you to takesome of your food, even if they're strangers onthe bus," says Watene.
"Some of the little things that we don't eventhink about on our campuses back home havebecome so apparent to us during our on-campus stay at University of Iringa. Nobodywalks around with headphones in and headdown. There's always a group of peoplesocializing, and people will stop for entireconversations even if they're on their way toclass or a meeting."
Watene was surprised to learn that theconcept of time is flexible there.
"You're never really late for class or a meeting, you just arrive whenever you get there."
Watene says the study abroad experience in Tanzania has included "balanced academic immersion,local interaction and incredible weekend excursions for a very fulfilling" experience so far.
When Watene returns from Tanzania in May, she'll continue to pursue her interest in internationalcultures. She hopes to work abroad in the future.
